Hurricane Maria was a deadly category 5 storm that devastated Dominica on September 18, 2017 living death and destruction in its path.
It is regarded as the worst natural disaster in recorded history to affect those islands and was also the deadliest Atlantic Hurricane season since Jeanne in 2004.
The tenth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record and the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2017, Maria was the thirteenth named storm, eighth consecutive hurricane, fourth major hurricane, second Category 5 hurricane, and deadliest storm of the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season.
At its peak, the hurricane caused catastrophic destruction and numerous fatalities across the northeastern Caribbean.
The hurricane reached Category 5 strength on September 18 just before making landfall on Dominica, becoming the first Category 5 hurricane on record to strike the island. After weakening slightly due to crossing Dominica, Maria achieved its peak intensity over the eastern Caribbean with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a pressure of 908 mbar (hPa; 26.81 inHg).
Maria wrought catastrophic devastation to the entirety of Dominica, which suffered an island-wide communication blackout. Much of the housing stock and infrastructure were left beyond repair, while the island’s lush vegetation was practically eradicated. The island also endured widespread flooding, damaged roofs, and uprooted trees and living over 30 dead and more than 30 people missing.